- In 2025 the global printing ink market will be worth $35.8 billion
- The market is forecast to grow between 2025 and 2030 with value increasing by 2.4% CAGR to $40.2 billion.
There are several macroeconomic trends that underpin and drive technology development in the printing ink market. There is a global drive towards increased sustainability in all printing and this is a key driver for ink developments, which include the use of sustainable and bio-sourced raw materials in printing inks, as well as formulations with improved deinking and recycling properties. There are also regulatory drivers with legislation affecting every aspect of print.
Definition
The end-use applications for printing inks covered in this report fall into three broad segments: publications, graphics and labels & packaging. A broad range of drivers including economic, demographic, legislative, sustainability and environmental factors are having a significant effect on demand for these end-use segments.
Key Questions
- What are the key challenges and opportunities in the global ink market over the next five years?
- How will regulatory compliance, and resulting changes in raw material classification, impact ink markets?
- What advancements in ink technology will improve print quality over the next five years?
- How are pressures on the supply chain and raw materials driving up ink prices?
This report is essential to:
- Raw materials suppliers including inks and consumables
- Equipment and machinery suppliers
- Print providers and packaging converters
About the author
Jon Harper Smith has over 40 years’ experience in the printing industry through his time working with Fujifilm and has extensive experience of industrial and package printing businesses with particular focus on industrial inkjet and flexo processes. He has a proven ability to develop complex cross border businesses involving the provision of highly technical products that meet strict end user specifications.
Executive summary
Introduction and methodology
- Introduction
- Report objectives
- Methodology
- Data
- Scope and definitions
- End-use segments
- Geography
- List of definitions
- Abbreviations and glossary of terms
- Exchange rates
Key drivers and trends
- Introduction
- Geopolitical influences
- Tariffs
- Demographic and social influences
- Population growth
- Urbanisation
- Number of households
- Rise of the middle classes
- Age structure
- Marketplace drivers
- Content increasingly accessed online
- Short run and personalised content
- Regulatory requirements
- E-commerce
- Globalisation
- Sustainability
- Ink supply chain
- Mergers, acquisitions and insolvency
- Ink pricing
- Ink supply model
- Leading analogue ink companies
- DIC Corporation
- Flint Group
- Sakata INX
- Artience (formerly Toyo Ink SC Holdings)
- Siegwerk
- Hubergroup
- Leading digital ink companies
- Opportunities and threats for the global printing ink business
Technological innovations
- Sustainable ink development
- Indirect food contact inks
- UV LED inks
- Electron beam
- Bio-sourced raw materials
- De-inking
- Increasing use of water-based inks
- Water-based inkjet development
- Increased speed for water-based inkjet inks
- Single pass vs multipass (scanning)
- Inkjet nozzle compensation
- Print quality and automation
- High-value niche development
Printing ink market by type
- Overview
- Solvent-based inks
- Water-based inks
- Oil-based inks
- Radiation-cured inks
- UV
- Electron beam (EB)
- Toner
Printing ink market by end use
- Overview
- Books
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Advertising
- Catalogues
- Directories
- Photobooks
- Transactional print
- Security
- Other commercial print
- Labels
- Packaging
Printing ink market by process
- Overview
- Sheetfed offset litho
- Heatset (web) offset litho
- Coldset (web) offset litho
- Gravure
- Flexo
- Screen
- Letterpress
- Other analogue
- Electrophotographic toners
- Inkjet
Printing ink market by geography
- Overview
- Western Europe
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Spain
- UK
- Other Western Europe
- North America
- Canada
- US
- Asia
- China
- India
- Japan
- South Korea
- Other Asia
- Latin America
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Other Latin America
- Eastern Europe
- Czech Republic
- Poland
- Russia
- Other Eastern Europe
- Middle East
- Turkey
- Other Middle East
- Africa
- Australasia
FIGURES
- Ink consumption by end-market segment, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Ink consumption by end-market segment, 2020–30 ($ billion)
- Global printing ink volume 2020–30 (tonnes)
- Global printing ink value 2020–30 ($ million)
- Ink market by ink type – volume basis, 2020–30 (tonnes)
- Ink market by ink type – value basis, 2020–30 ($ million)
- Ink consumption by region 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Ink consumption by region 2020–30 ($ million)
- Effect of tariffs on key global economies
- Regional population forecast 2020–30
- US number of households 1960–2024
- Size of middle class by region 2015–2030 (millions)
- Population pyramids – World, China & Western Europe 2024
- Demand for publication printing 2019–29
- Safety label on inkjet cartridge
- Growth of B2B e-commerce 2017–2026 ($ trillion)
- LED UV curing on web press
- Diagram of key components of typical inks
- HP Latex 800W water-based wide-format graphic printer
- Fujifilm Acuity Triton
- Simplified diagram of a typical inkjet ink
- Multipass (scanning) architecture in flat bed configuration
- Single-pass architecture in web fed configuration
- Image showing missing nozzles before and after correction
- Ink market by ink type – volume basis, 2020–30 (metric tonnes per annum)
- Ink market by ink type – value basis, 2020–30 ($ million)
- Solvent-based inks: global consumption by process, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume and value)
- Water-based inks: global consumption by process, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume and value)
- Oil-based inks: global consumption by process, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume and value)
- Radiation-cured inks: global consumption by process, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume and value)
- Canon PRISMA elevate XL high relief images
- Ink consumption by end-market segment, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes per annum and $ billion)
- Books: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Magazines: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Newspapers: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Advertising: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Catalogues: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Directories: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Photobooks: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Transactional print: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Security: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Other commercial print: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Labels: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Packaging: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Sheetfed offset litho: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Heatset (web) offset litho: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Coldset (web) offset litho: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Gravure: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Flexo: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Screen: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Letterpress: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Other analogue: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Toner consumption (‘000 tonnes and $ billion) by end-use sector, 2020–30
- Inkjet ink consumption (‘000 tonnes and $ billion) by end-use sector, 2020–30
- Inkjet: global printing ink consumption by type, 2025 & 2030 (% share by volume)
- Ink consumption by region, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
TABLES
- Timeline for developments in printing inks
- Global ink market – summary of key market drivers
- Key regulations applicable to inks and coatings
- Opportunities and threats for global printing ink businesses
- Global printing ink consumption by type, 2020–30 (tonnes)
- Global printing ink consumption by type, 2020–30 ($ million)
- Solvent-based inks: consumption by geographic market, 2020–30 (tonnes)
- Solvent-based inks: consumption by geographic market, 2020–30 ($ million)
- Solvent-based inks: global consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes)
- Solvent-based inks: global consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 ($ million)
- Water-based inks: consumption by geographic market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Water-based inks: global consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Oil-based inks: consumption by geographic market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Oil-based inks: global consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Radiation-cured inks: consumption by geographic market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Radiation-cured inks: global consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Toner: consumption by geographic market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Toner: global consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Global printing ink consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- For each end use:
- Printing ink consumption by geographic market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Global printing ink consumption by process, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- List of end uses:
- Books
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Advertising
- Catalogues
- Directories
- Photobooks
- Transactional print
- Security
- Other commercial print
- Labels
- Packaging
- Global printing ink consumption by process, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- For each print type:
- Printing ink consumption by geographic market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Global printing ink consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- List of end uses:
- Sheetfed offset litho
- Heatset (web) offset litho
- Coldset (web) offset
- Gravure
- Flexo
- Screen
- Letterpress
- Other analogue
- Electrophotographic toners
- Inkjet
- Global printing ink consumption by region, 2020–30 (tonnes)
- Global printing ink consumption by region, 2020–30 ($ million)
- Western Europe: printing ink consumption by country, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Western Europe: printing ink consumption by process, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Western Europe: printing ink consumption by type, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Western Europe: printing ink consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- For each country:
- Printing ink consumption by process,
- 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Printing ink consumption by type, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Printing ink consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- List of countries:
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Spain
- UK
- Other Western Europe
- North America: printing ink consumption by country, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- North America: printing ink consumption by process, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- North America: printing ink consumption by type, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- North America: printing ink consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- For each country:
- Printing ink consumption by process,
- 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Printing ink consumption by type, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Printing ink consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- List of countries:
- Canada
- US
- Asia: printing ink consumption by country, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Asia: printing ink consumption by process, 2020–30 (tonnes an d$ million)
- Asia: printing ink consumption by type, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Asia: printing ink consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- For each country:
- Printing ink consumption by process,
- 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Printing ink consumption by type, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Printing ink consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- List of countries:
- China
- India
- Japan
- South Korea
- Other Asia
- Latin America: printing ink consumption by country, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Latin America: printing ink consumption by process, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Latin America: printing ink consumption by type, 2020–30 (tonne and $ million)
- Latin America: printing ink consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- For each country:
- Printing ink consumption by process,
- 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Printing ink consumption by type, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Printing ink consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- List of countries:
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Other Latin America
- Eastern Europe: printing ink consumption by country, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Eastern Europe: printing ink consumption by process, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Eastern Europe: printing ink consumption by type, 2020–30 (tonne and $ million)
- Eastern Europe: printing ink consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- For each country:
- Printing ink consumption by process,
- 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Printing ink consumption by type, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Printing ink consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- List of countries:
- Czech Republic
- Poland
- Russia
- Other Eastern Europe
- Middle East: printing ink consumption by country, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Middle East: printing ink consumption by process, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Middle East: printing ink consumption by type, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Middle East: printing ink consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- For each country:
- Printing ink consumption by process,
- 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Printing ink consumption by type, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Printing ink consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- List of countries:
- Turkey
- Other Middle East
- Africa: printing ink consumption by process, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Africa: printing ink consumption by type, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Africa: printing ink consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Australasia: printing ink consumption by process, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Australasia: printing ink consumption by type, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
- Australasia: printing ink consumption by end-use market, 2020–30 (tonnes and $ million)
